Architectural and Structural Design for the Support and Rehabilitation of the Building for the Purpose of Accommodating the Public Library of Aegina – Interior Design

The existing building has been classified by Ministerial Decision as a historical monument. The “Eynard Building” is the first neoclassical building morphology of Modern Greek Architecture. The construction was made in 1829.

Is an one storey building (elevated ground floor) with rectangular shape and outer dimensions 10,45 X25, 75 m and total height, along with the roof, 8.06 m. The building consists of four distinct parts: the portico and three rooms interconnecting. With a total plot area of 400sqm

The “Eynard Building” is the center of Aegina, in a short distance from the beach. Near the Cathedral, the Cultural Centre and the public library which will be relocate to “Evnard Building”, the elementary school of Aegina, the Folklore Museum and City Hall.

In the plot there are no other buildings except from two small wooden houses that have remained on the land from the time “Evnard Building” houses the Archaeological Museum of Aegina.

One lodge is located to the right of the entrance of the plot and was used for the issuance of tickets for the museum. The second one (dimension 1,00 X1,00m) is next to the secondary entrance of land and used to be the guardhouse.

The Public Library of Aegina. The building is divided into five general categories:

1) The Entrance

2) Administration

3) Children’s section

4) Adult section

5) Outdoor cultural events

The portico. It is the semi-open space on the northern side of the building and has the same length as the facade (24,50 X1,75m and height 4.87m), its floor has a top coating of mosaic. To the side of the frontage has a rectangular array of eight columns (0.70×0.70m). From the inner side of prostyle is the entrance to the main building, which consists of three rooms.

The Entrance. The main entrance to the building is through a metal door from the middle of the prostyle to the hall “B”. The hall ( 7,63 X6,70 m and height 4.70m) is in the center of the building and communicate with it two other rooms. The hall “A” is to the right side (7.94 x 6,67m) and the hall “C ” on the left (8.08 X6,)71m).

The building. (before rehabilitation).

The Hall “B”. Has two windows to the street and two to the portico and two doors, one leading to the hall “A”and the other to the hall “C ”

The Hall “A”. Has three windows to the street and two to the portico and a door leading to the hall “B”. The Hall “C”. has three windows to the street and two to the portico and a door leading to the hall “B”. The floors of the halls are mosaic , the walls are plastered. The frames are wooden.

The Roof. The roof is gabled with Byzantine tiles.

The Façades. All sides of the building are plastered and painted. The color of Façades is ocher except from the prostyle which is red.

The Hall “B” and “C”.With the removal of the intermediate wall has been created a unified room for all library functions (except from children’s section which is organized in the hall “A”).

The entrance to the library is through the portico using the current main entrance of the building.

Because of the limited space, additional administrative places are located in a small local loft which does not modify the existing shell.

Opposite the entrance is the reception area. On the back of this room is the control room of all facilities of the library. In the same area there is a lift book for transporting books and staircase for access to the loft.

To the right of the entrance is a waiting area for the public with showcases of magazines and newspapers as well as a reading area.

One part of the l`oft occupies an area for a two-person administration office. There is also a W.C. for library staff and a small preparation room (kitchenette).

The remaining space of the unified hall, on ground floor, is occupied by a reading area which contains 3 multimedia places, bookshelfs and a small exhibition of books relating to Aegina Island.

In the left corner of this area to the portico opened the original door had closed with masonry and an emergency exit of bookshelves and a reading.

The Hall “A”. It houses the children’s section which is divided into the Activities department and Bookshelves department.

The Bookshelves department of the children’s section is mainly generated in the loft up to room “A”.

To the Activities department are integrated multimedia area, sound system and video area (CD, Home Cinema, Video etc.) and a central reading area.